Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-24
Veterans Experience With Sheep.

A correspondent of the American
Sheep Breeder discusses heavy and light
brands as follows:
Now, az I have had over forty years
experience IN sheep-breeding, and have
tried both fine and coarse wooded sheep,
| will say, for the btnefit of your readers,
that to keep in large focks, the Merlno
sheep are preferable to any coarse-wooled
breed that have ever seen. Coarse wool
sheep may pay well in small f1ocks, well
kept, where lamb mutton sells at extrav-
agently high prices. In large tiocks how
every fine-wooled sheep will take on flesh
better than any of the coarse breeds that
/ have seen. Hundreds of times [ have
noticed in large focks, where coarse and
tine-wooled sheep were all kept alike, the
merino sheep were fat and saiable, while
those of the coarse wooded breed were
thin in flesh and unstable, sheep
weighing 100 pounds in st. Louis or Chi
cago, and fat will bring more per pound
live weight than one weighing 125
pounds, thin in flesh.
| have sold in st. Lous fine wooded
wethers weighing eightyseven and a
half pounds per head for three cents a
pound, while coarse wooded sheep, weigh
ing IL pounds, brought only two and
one-half cents pound.
My observation has been that for large
flock masters, that keep 1000 or more in
herd, the Merino sheep will combine
wool and mutton better than any other
breed.
Hundreds of men have tried breeding
Merino ewes to coarse-wooled rams. for
the purpose of raising large sheep, but
nearly all give it up after shearing their
half breeds twice, as they find there is too
much falling off in the weight of fleece.
Nov | would say to those breeding
Merino sheep, that some men in select
ing stock rams often lose sight of all
other points to gain some one point
This consider a very great mistake, as
they often lose some point more import
ant than the one they gain. Too often
constitution has been lost for great
weight of fleece. Others lose sight of
pound of good body wool for an ounce
of wool on the legs, or about the eyes
which | consider very great mistake.
[ consider any wool that obstructs the
eyesight detriment rather
than benefit to the sheep. Some may
wish 10 know which is the most desirable
size for a Merino stock ram to obtain
good results from his stock. In answer I
would say that no one objects to large
sheep, provided he has the other quail
ties desired. But I prefer a medium
sized, well-formed animal, to large ILL
formed one.
Now as to weight of fleece for mer-
inc stock ram. One pound of unwashed
wool to five pounds of carcass is all that
want. | prefer good quality of wool,
good constitution, and other good quail
ties, rather than more weight of fleece.
This would give a twenty-five pound
fleece of unwashed wool from a ram
weighing 80 pounds in full fleece, and
thirty pounds from ram weighing $50
pounds in full fleece. | have owned rams
that gave one pound of fleece to four of
carcass, and even more than that. But
such ones as rule, lack for constitution,
From careful observation I have found
that 1 can get one pound of fleece to five
of carcass, andge awell constitutional
sheep.
As to close in and-in breeding, I don't
approve of it. / have known more men
that made failure of close in-and- in
breeding than I ever knew that made a
success of it to any great length of
time.
What is Best TO do with the Small Fruits at
This Season.
Philadelphia Record
Work among the strawberries. rasp-
berries and blackberries must begin ear
ly. The mulch may be removed from
Strawberries now, and soon as the frost
\ hor Of hos